Explore the creative possibilities of polymer millefiori, in this detailed 19 page A4 tutorial with 60 hand-drawn illustrations and 23 photographs.
 
No experience necessary! 
 
This tutorial will take you from absolute polymer clay beginner, through to making your own amazing and beautiful kaleidoscopic patterns in polymer clay, using the ancient millefiori technique. 
 
You will learn how to choose colours that "go", how to condition the clay, what tools are essential and what are "nice to have". I'll also share loads of tips and tricks and advice for getting the best results from your millefiori work. 
 
The bulk of this tutorial is made up of highly detailed, illustrated, step-by-step instructions for TWO different millefiori techniques.  Make both, or choose the one that you like the look of best and save the other for later.
 
Table of contents: 
- About polymer and millefiori 
- Basic tools required
- 'Nice to have' tools
- What brand of clay?
- Choosing colours for millefiori
- Some colour combination ideas
- How much clay should I use?
- Conditioning clay
- Cane 1: basic ‘wave’ cane (steps A to S)    
 - Cane 2: Basic ‘cut and recombine’ cane (steps A- T)    
- Going hexagonal!
- Slicing your cane and making a veneered sheet
- Burnishing
- Get the most out of your veneered sheet
- Try this: curved edges
- Removing your sheet from your worksurface
- Curing instructions
- Sanding and buffing    
- Some suppliers and sources of further information    
 
NB 1: Please note this is a tutorial for making the patterns themselves, rather than an item of jewellery  - although there are some ideas for what you can make with your pattern included at the end, as well as some tips for getting the most out of your design.
 
NB 2: Part of the beauty of millefiori is that no pattern is the same. Two people following identical instructions will produce completely different patterns - don't expect your canes to look like mine, or like anyone else's! They'll be completely unique to you.
 
About me: I'm a millefiori artist based just outside London, England. I'm a member of The Surrey Guild of Craftsmen, a steering group member of the London Polymer Clay Group, and I make a living selling my handmade polymer pieces and millefiori art internationally.
 
I've been teaching for four years and have taken hundreds of people through their first experience of polymer clay - and watched them make the most amazing and individual patterns using this technique.